Native Reopens With An Improved Decor and Menu
Native is not dead.
Native, the restaurant pretty much running the show on Lenox Ave in South Harlem, began a phased reopening last week. Selections from the newly developed cocktail menu were introduced Monday and Tuesday, followed by rotating menu selections Wednesday thru Sunday. The grand reopening is set for Wednesday, May 9th. Based on a sneak peak, the time used to remake the restaurant was time well spent.
Stepping inside, one instantly sees that the interior decor has been refined. Someone took care to sweep out the dingy feeling the venue used to have. Solid colors and clean lines replace what I remember as a gradated scheme. The bar is now a concrete-top structure that contrasts nicely with the surrounding solid colors by using washed hues of strong blues. Also, the new bar placement, snaking along the wall back from the door, gives the area a bit more of an open feeling. The former placement could leave guests entering and exiting feeling cramped.
The menu another Harlemite and myself saw Thursday evening is a little disjointed; one would have a hard time determining exactly which native the restaurant was modeled after. However, the entrees we enjoyed were good enough to classify the selections as 'eclectic,' rather than 'schizophrenic.' Appetizers included bar staples such as buffalo wings as well as mainstay staples such as fried calamari. Entrees also ranged from the more casual Red Beans and Rice (with sweet plantains and garlic spinach) to the formal Grilled NY Strip Steak (with stewed tomatoes, black-eyed peas and tostones).
I tried the Basil Curry Chicken (with spicy pan asian sauce and coconut rice), which I found to be excellent. Even after keeping the dish under a warmer while I ran home to grab a camera battery, the chicken was tender and no where near dry. The rice was also good, and tasted like I wanted it to. I would have enjoyed the sauce more if spicy had been left out of the name, as my idea of spicy looks for a bit more kick. The Harlemite I was dining with tried the Moroccan Fried Chicken, which he also enjoyed.
All in all, I was very happy with the fare, and I am looking forward to seeing the full menu on Wednesday.
Comments
I looked at the menu yesterday. It is the same food they've served for four years. If they're planning to refine the menu, and boy oh boy it sure needs refinement, refreshing, something!, there's nothing to show for it yet.
Posted by: flip | May 7, 2007 10:17 PM
Can you really polish a turd? I don't think so. The place needed real restaurant people running it. Let's face it, you go their holding your nose. Since Melba's opened I've not been to Native.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 10, 2007 01:30 PM
If you're looking for a place with cheap drinks, good food, and a wonderful atmosphere check out Shrine on Adam Clayton Powell between 133rd and 134th. It's in the old Black United Fund Plaza and has been hosting some wonderful musicians in its opening weeks.
Posted by: Karen | May 25, 2007 04:59 PM
I'm so elated that Native reopened. To describe Native in a few words: the atmosphere--amazing; music--eclectic; and food--tasty. It's one of the few restaurants in Harlem that fully invites a youthful, diverse, professional crowd minus the attitude and pretentiousness.
Native is a great escape from the "typical" fried chicken and collard green spots. Those are good too, but they get tired after a while. Native, however, maintains a hint of soul, while fusing its cuisine and atmosphere with Latin, Carribean and French cultures. Its menu is as diverse and colorful as its customers offering new spins on familiar foods like: grits, macaroni and cheese, wings, etc.
My recommendations:
Fried Calamari
Seafood Bisque
Salmon
Sauteed Spinach
Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Posted by: Anonymous | May 27, 2007 08:00 PM
I've lived in the area for the last year and usually stop by Native for dinner once a week on my way home. Before the "renovations" I enjoyed the food. Usually had the fish for dinner and wings for an appetizer. The service was always good and although I thought they could improve the drink menu.
I recently revisited Native and wasn't too sure what changed. The interior looks the same. I was expecting some type of improvement. Anyway, I was STARVING and ordered wings and the salmon. The breaded wings came to the table (they weren't like this before) and I proceed to try one. I don't know how you mess up wings (the frozen tyson wings I make at home are great), but for some reason they were horrible. I was too tired to argue and too hungry to send them back. I ate every one of them. I did tell the waitress my opinion though and politely apologized.
Next came the salmon. It was pretty good, just a bit salty (maybe it was me).
Long story short, the food/menu seems to be the same/worse. I don't know when I'll stop for dinner again. The service is always great and drinks are pretty good. I like the ambiance and its in a good location. I can say they Native noticed my discontent and without me asking or making a fuss they took the wings off of my bill. Like I said the service has always been great and good service can save any business (as long as the product catches up).
If anything changes on the food front....please let me know.
Posted by: gerry | June 3, 2007 03:50 PM
Native's original menus drew a line where they would deliver to in the area, and the line cut out the projects..WHY??? Because Native did not want their delivery people going into DANGEROUS buildings. These projects have got to go!!!
Posted by: getridoftheprojects | June 13, 2007 01:11 PM